Shoe tree or jack



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BLEAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE TREE OR JACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,127, dated February'7, 1899.

Application filed February 9, 1898. Serial No. 869,709. (No model.)

holding and operating the same, and has for its object to provide simplemeans of this description for the manipulation of a shoe in mending ormaking the same; and with these ends in view this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, its constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-aFigure 1 is a section of a base-block fitted with my improvements,showing the tree in one position in full lines and in another in dottedlines; Fig. 2, a plan View thereof ;A Fig. 3, a detail perspective ofthe adjustable swinging arm g Fig. 4, a section at the line @c :c ofFig. 2, the swinging arm being omitted; and Fig. 5, a sectionalelevation of a last-support and the clamp for use in connection with myimprovements, whereby the making of a shoe is facilitated. A

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents thebase-block, which is of a size and shape to readil)7 support the partsattached thereto, and has formed therewith an extension or shank B, inwhich is an undercut groove C, as clearly shown in crosssection in Fig.4.

An arm D is provided for the support of the shoe-tree, and this arm hasan odset E cast therewith, adapted to fit within the groove C, and bymeans of the head F, formed with the oset, the arm will be held withinthev groove, yet permitted to swing, as will be readily understood, andin order that the head may not be accidentally withd rawn from thegroove I provide a bridge G, arranged to fit in a crosswise groove I'I,so that when the head has been inserted within the groove from the openend thereof said groove will be closed by the insertion of the bridge,as seen in Fig. l.

I represents the shoe-tree, having a round shank J, upon which is formeda head K, having a iian ge L therewith. This head is adapted to fitwithin a circular recess M, formed in the central portion of thebase-block, and when so placed it will be seen that the tree is swiveledto the block and may be revolved upon its axis, and for-the purpose ofholding said tree in place upon the block when the device is inoperation the swinging arm is fork-ed at its outer end, as indicated atN, and by swinging the arm to a horizontal position and sliding itinward until its forked end embraces the shank of the shoe-tree abovethe iiange L said tree may be heldin place by simply placing the footupon the curved portion of this arm.

By this arrangement a shoe may be placed upon a tree and revolved so asto bring it into convenient positions for operating upon, and aft-er theoperations, which require a vertical position of the tree, have beenaccomplished and it is desired to turn the tree to ahorizontal positionfor further operations this is quickly and readily accomplished byswinging the arm upward, said arm carrying with it the tree, on accountof the forked end thereof embracing the shank of said tree, andthereafter this tree will be held in a horizontal position and may yetbe revolved upon its axis, as clearly indicated in dotted lines in Fig.l.

For convenience in holding the shoe upon the tree I provide a hook O,with which a strap may engage for this purpose.

When new shoes are to be operated upon, requiring the holding andstretching of the leather, I utilize a last-support of the constructionshown in Fig. 5, which consists of the post P, projecting upward from abase Q, said base having a shank R, on which is formed the flange headS, these two lastnamed parts corresponding exactly with the shank andhead of the shoe-tree before described in order that they may fit withinthe baselblock, as well as be embraced by the forked end of the swingingarm. Through the post is formed a hole, and a slot is also formed in thebase Q, and in this slot and hole runs the guide-arm T, which may beheld in any adjustment by means of the set-screw U, and formed with orsecured to this arm is the clamp V, having pivoted thereto the jaw W,which is under control of theclamp-screw X, by means of which it may bedrawn toward the clamp,and thereby secure the leather while it is beingformed to the last, which is adapted to be supported by the upper end ofthe post B, as clearly shown, and this complete device maybe placedwithin the baseblock before described and there held by the swingingarm, or it may be swung to a horizontal position by swinging the arm toits vertical position, as before described in connection with theshoe-tree.

By the use of my improvements the mending or making of shoes by hand isgreatly facilitated and the cost of the devices are but slightly inadvance of the cost of an ordinary tree, while many and importantadvantages fare gained.

It will be understood that any shape or de sign of tree, last, or toolmay be utilized in connection with my improvement, it being onlynecessary that the shank thereof is adapt-ed to t within the recess M ofthe baseblock or be embraced by the fork N of the swinging arm.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- 1. In a device of the character described, a base-block, a treehaving a head and a shank adapted to fit within a recess of thebaseblock, a swinging arm slidable in a groove of the base-block andhaving a bifurcated end embracing a shank of the tree, as and for thepurpose described.

2. In combination, a base, a tree having a head fitting a'circularrecess of the base, a swinging arnrhaving a bifurcated end embracing ashank of the tree, said arm having an offset formed on its end slidingin a groove of the base, as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination, a base-block having a recess and an undercut grooveformed therein, a shoe-tree adapted to fit within said recess, and aswinging arm adapted to slide within the groove, as specified.

4. In combination, a base-block having a recess and an undercut grooveformed therein, a shoe-tree, a shank formed with said tree, a headcarried by the shank, said head being adapted to it within the recess inthe block, aswinging arm, an ofset formed therewith, a head formed uponthe offset, said head being adapted to slide within the un dercutgroove, a fork formed upon the outerend of the arm,- and a bridge forpreventing the accidental withdrawal of the arm,as specified.

5. In combination with a base-block, alastsupport, consisting of a post,a block from which said post projects, ashank formed with said block, ahead formed with the shank, a guide-arm sliding in a groove and holeinthe block and post, a clamp carried by the arm, a jaw pivoted tosaidclamp, and a screw for operating the jaw, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

. CHARLES BLEAM.

Witnesses:

R. M. PIERCE, S. S. WILLIAMSON.

